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Earthful Funding Boost: Rs 26 Crore to Scale Women’s Wellness and Plant-Based Supplements

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Earthful Funding Boost: Rs 26 Crore to Scale Women’s Wellness and Plant-Based Supplements

Plant-based nutrition startup Earthful has secured Rs 26 crore ($2.89 million) in a pre-Series A funding round, led by Fireside Ventures and V3 Ventures, with additional participation from Atrium Angels. The capital injection comes as the company seeks to deepen its presence in India’s rapidly growing health and wellness segment, particularly in women’s nutrition.

Founded by sisters Veda Gogineni and Sudha Gogineni, Earthful gained national attention after appearing on Shark Tank India. The startup had previously raised around $1 million from angel investors and family offices. According to company sources, Earthful achieved over threefold growth in the last financial year, driven by strong customer retention and the rising demand for clean-label, plant-based nutritional supplements.

The newly raised funds will primarily support the expansion of Earthful’s women-focused product line, along with scaling operations in Hyderabad and Mumbai. The company also plans to invest in product innovation and brand-led marketing strategies aimed at capturing a larger share of India’s wellness market.

Earthful’s portfolio currently includes daily multivitamins designed for various age groups, plant-based protein powders, and supplements targeting skin, hair, and sleep wellness. All products are formulated to be free from unnecessary additives, reflecting the brand’s focus on preventive health and simplified nutrition.

Over the past two years, Earthful has built a customer base exceeding 2 lakh, with repeat consumption emerging as a key growth driver. With this latest funding round, the startup aims to accelerate its footprint across India, particularly in Tier 1 and Tier 2 cities where demand for premium, plant-based wellness solutions is growing rapidly.

Industry experts note that women’s health remains an underserved segment in India, with rising awareness around preventive nutrition creating a robust opportunity for brands like Earthful to scale quickly. The company’s founders see the funding as a stepping stone toward establishing a broader portfolio of plant-based, wellness-focused products and strengthening brand recognition nationally.

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India’s Premium Salon Segment Growing 10–15% Annually, AI Drives Transformation: Cosmoprof 2025 Insights

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India’s Premium Salon Segment Growing 10–15% Annually, AI Drives Transformation: Cosmoprof 2025 Insights

India’s premium salon sector is witnessing a surge, expanding at nearly 10 to 15 percent annually, driven by rising demand for high-performance transformation services in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities, according to industry leaders at Cosmoprof India 2025. The three-day event, which concluded in Bengaluru, drew over 14,000 visitors and hosted 353 exhibitors and 800 brands from 23 countries, highlighting India’s growing significance as a beauty market.

Samir Srivastava, CEO of Looks Salon, said digital integration is reshaping the salon experience. “Consumers are gravitating toward salons that leverage technology. AI-enabled tools like smart mirrors for hair and skin diagnostics help personalise services and build trust,” he explained. Looks Salon plans to add around 20 outlets annually, emphasizing AI-supported infrastructure to enhance engagement and operational efficiency.

Vipul Chaturvedi, CEO & Director of Lakmé Salons, pointed to rapid growth in premium transformation services such as advanced facials, hair texture treatments, and the K’essence range developed with Korean brand JeuDerm. “Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities are contributing significantly to our expansion, supported by rising incomes and exposure to global trends,” he said. Lakmé Salons, operating over 500 outlets across 215 cities, anticipates mid-teen growth in the premium segment, driven by unisex offerings and specialised transformation services.

Vikram Bhatt, Founder of Enrich Salons, highlighted the transition toward an experience-driven, technology-enabled ecosystem. Enrich adds 25 to 35 new outlets annually, focusing on personalised, consistent services. Renu Kant, Founder of Envi Salon, noted that AI helps predict customer needs, offering tailored packages and smoother service journeys.

CK Kumaravel, Co-Founder & CMD of Naturals Salon & Spa, emphasized AI’s role in automating tasks, tracking consumer behaviour, and enabling faster scale while maintaining service quality.

Yogesh Mudras of Informa Markets India noted that India is projected to become the world’s third-largest beauty and personal care market by 2030, with the premium segment growing at 13–15 percent annually. Enrico Zannini, General Manager of BolognaFiere Cosmoprof, said, “India’s young, aspirational consumer base and increasing purchasing power make it a key global beauty market.”

The event underscored that technology, premiumisation, and innovation are set to define India’s beauty sector in the coming decade.

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Nara Thai Debuts in North India as Aditya Birla New Age Hospitality Plans 10-Outlet National Expansion

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Nara Thai has stepped into North India with the opening of its first restaurant in Gurugram, setting the stage for a wider national push under Aditya Birla New Age Hospitality. The launch marks a significant milestone for the Bangkok-born brand, which now operates 35 restaurants across Asia and the Middle East and has crossed sixty global outlets when including its extended group portfolio.

The move also signals a broader ambition from Aditya Birla New Age Hospitality, which entered the premium dining segment only last year. What began as a Mumbai-specific franchise has now evolved into a nationwide mandate after the company convinced Nara’s founders about the opportunity in India’s tier-one markets. The group currently manages two Nara Thai locations in Mumbai, and the Gurugram restaurant becomes its first in the North.

The next phase is sharply defined. Ten new Nara Thai restaurants are planned over the coming three years, with Delhi, Noida and Bengaluru at the front of the queue, followed by Hyderabad and Pune. Each outlet will span roughly 2,500 to 3,000 square feet and seat around eighty to a hundred diners. The company estimates that every restaurant generates fifty to sixty direct jobs, taking the three-year employment potential close to six hundred roles.

Nara Thai maintains a stringent culinary playbook. Core ingredients, sauces and pastes are sourced from Bangkok to preserve the flavour profile built over two decades, while fresh produce is procured locally. The India team spends time training with Bangkok’s culinary leads, and the brand’s global executive chef makes regular visits to ensure consistency.

With Taiwan currently its strongest market with twelve restaurants, Nara’s founders believe India has the potential to surpass it over the next decade. The partnership with Aditya Birla New Age Hospitality spans ten years, giving the brand time to deepen its reach as premium Asian dining continues to grow in urban India.

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Albinder Dhindsa Predicts Quick Commerce Shakeout Amid Rising Cash Burn

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India’s quick commerce sector, long powered by aggressive fundraising and rapid geographic expansion, may be approaching a reality check. Blinkit Chief Executive Albinder Dhindsa has warned that the model that fuelled the industry’s rise is now showing clear signs of strain, setting the stage for a correction that could reshape the consumer internet landscape.

Dhindsa said the sector’s dependence on constant capital inflows has reached a point where companies will soon be forced to examine how much longer they can absorb heavy operational losses. His comments come at a time when global investors such as SoftBank, Temasek and major Middle Eastern funds have already committed billions to India’s ten-minute delivery experiment. The enthusiasm helped create one of the most watched rapid-delivery markets in the world, even as similar models stumbled in the United States, Europe and parts of Asia.

Funding pressures are becoming more visible. Swiggy, Blinkit’s nearest competitor, is preparing a share sale worth about one point one billion dollars, almost mirroring the valuation of its previous year’s market debut. Zepto has raised four hundred fifty million dollars ahead of an expected listing next year. The moves highlight the steep cash requirements needed to keep the promise of stocking and delivering everything from fresh produce to electronics at record speed.

Dhindsa believes the imbalance between rising capital needs and investor caution is usually followed by swift corrections that catch companies unprepared. Analysts at Bernstein and Société Générale recently noted that Blinkit’s parent Eternal Limited still holds a strong advantage due to its execution and cash reserves of more than two billion dollars. Even so, the analysts warned that competitive intensity could force higher spending before the business generates free cash flow.

Blinkit continues to build supply-chain depth, especially with its push into smaller towns where demand exists but the density of dark stores and strong procurement systems remains limited. Dhindsa said the company is focusing on scalable categories and avoiding the heavy discounting that created artificial spikes in orders during earlier phases of the market.

He believes the next stage for quick commerce will be defined by consolidation, sharper category choices and a shift in discounting behaviour. The industry has already moved once from scepticism to celebration. Dhindsa said the next swing in sentiment is inevitable, though the exact timing remains uncertain.

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Timex Taps Rising Motorsports Craze, Introduces Aston Martin Watches in India

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Timex Group India is setting its sights firmly on the premium watch buyer as it introduces Aston Martin timepieces to the country, marking one of its most ambitious expansions in recent years. The company believes the British marque fills a wide open gap for a true motorsports-rooted brand in India’s watch market.

Deepak Chhabra, Managing Director of Timex India, said the decision comes at a moment when motorsports interest in the country is at an all-time high. Formula One viewership, he noted, has climbed from roughly thirty-one million fans in 2020 to nearly sixty million today. This surge, combined with a visible shift toward design-driven and high-value watches, has created what the company sees as a natural entry point for Aston Martin.

With this launch, Timex strengthens its presence in the bridge-to-luxury category where it already houses Guess Collection and Philipp Plein. The Aston Martin portfolio will start with about sixty-five SKUs across two lines. One focuses on sportier, Formula One-inspired models priced from twelve thousand to twenty-five thousand rupees. The second line leans into the brand’s automotive heritage with timepieces ranging from twenty thousand to sixty thousand rupees.

The rollout will span major online platforms such as Myntra, Tata Cliq and Ajio Luxe, along with Timex’s own Just Watches network. Offline distribution will cover more than one hundred premium stores including Shoppers Stop, Just In Time, The Collective, Zimson, Swiss Time House, Sethi Watch Company and Ganga Ram Gallery.

Initially, all units will be imported under the parent company’s global licence. Timex plans to monitor demand before considering local assembly. The company is eyeing three million dollars in revenue from the range within two years. Retail sales typically double that figure, placing Aston Martin on track to become a fifty-crore brand in India by the end of that period.

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Dabur India Launches ₹500 Crore Dabur Ventures Fund to Invest in D2C Health, Beauty and Wellness Startups

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SnackTeam
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Dabur India just dropped a big move today: they’ve launched “Dabur Ventures,” a ₹500 crore fund dedicated to picking up minority stakes in direct-to-consumer startups, especially in the natural health, beauty, and wellness space.

If you’ve been anywhere near Instagram or quick-commerce apps lately, you know this category is exploding. From ayurvedic skincare brands to adaptogen-packed energy drinks, new-age D2C labels are eating market share faster than anyone expected. Dabur, being one of the oldest and biggest names in ayurveda, clearly doesn’t want to watch from the sidelines anymore.

Instead of trying to build everything in-house (which can take years), they’re taking the smarter route: invest early, learn from the new kids, get distribution insights, and probably roll some of these brands into their own portfolio later. It’s classic corporate venture capital, but with a sharp focus on segments where Dabur already has deep expertise and trust.

₹500 crore isn’t pocket change, but in the larger Indian startup funding scene it’s not mega-fund size either. It’s enough to write 15-25 meaningful cheques over the next few years without spreading themselves too thin. Expect them to chase companies that already have ₹20-100 crore ARR, strong unit economics, and a clear “natural” or “heritage-inspired” story.

This feels like perfect timing. Consumer trust in “chemical-free” and “back-to-roots” products is at an all-time high, and Dabur has the brand muscle to help these startups scale offline too. Smart play by an 140-year-old giant that refuses to get old.

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Foxtale Transforms Into House of Brands With Launch of Hula Hoop Bodycare Line

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Foxtale has taken a decisive step toward becoming a larger beauty powerhouse with the launch of its new bodycare brand, Hula Hoop by Foxtale. The move signals the company’s shift into a House of Brands structure, expanding its reach beyond the skincare category where it built its reputation. The Bengaluru-based company said the launch is backed by months of internal R&D work and a clear demand gap in science-led bodycare, a segment it believes has been underserved despite fast-rising consumer interest.

Hula Hoop arrives at a time when Foxtale is posting some of its strongest numbers since inception. The company reported a 250 per cent year-on-year surge in business over the past twelve months, strengthened by a repeat purchase rate of nearly 50 per cent across its direct platform. This performance, according to the company, has provided both the financial room and confidence to expand into adjacent categories and create a portfolio that can grow at scale.

Founder and chief executive Romita Mazumdar said the new brand is built for customers looking for targeted, derm-grade solutions for concerns like body acne, keratosis pilaris, pigmentation and chronic dryness. She added that the focus is on products that are outcome-driven and backed by the same formulation discipline that shaped Foxtale’s early success.

At launch, Hula Hoop will offer four products priced from ₹329 to ₹649, including two body washes, a lotion and an exfoliating scrub. The products will go live on the brand’s D2C site along with Nykaa, Amazon and leading quick-commerce platforms. Wider offline expansion is expected through the coming months.

Foxtale is on track to close the year with more than ₹700 crore in annualised GMV. The company expects to turn profitable next year as higher efficiencies and stronger retention metrics begin to reflect in its cost structure.

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Fast-Growing QSR Brand The Chatpata Affair to Raise ₹10 Crore for Middle East Expansion

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Fast-Growing QSR Brand The Chatpata Affair to Raise ₹10 Crore for Middle East Expansion

The Chatpata Affair is preparing for its biggest international push yet, as the vegetarian quick-service chain moves to raise Rs 10 crore to fuel an ambitious expansion across the UAE and the broader GCC region. The company, which has been testing the waters in Dubai with its first store, says early traction has been strong enough to justify a wider rollout.

The brand plans to open six new outlets in Dubai by March 2026, marking its first structured overseas expansion. The upcoming stores will span a mix of formats, from compact kiosks inside malls to smaller neighbourhood units positioned in residential pockets and busy transit points. The approach is intentionally asset-light, with the company leaning on a model that reduces upfront costs while allowing rapid scaling in high-footfall locations.

Founder Shiju Pappen says the new capital will be directed toward building this network and establishing partnerships that can support the chain’s long-term GCC footprint. Franchising will play a central role as the brand looks to expand beyond Dubai into markets like Abu Dhabi, Qatar and Oman over the next phase of growth.

Back home, The Chatpata Affair has crossed the 100-outlet mark and continues to add stores across major Indian cities. The company posted a 20 percent year-on-year rise in revenues, with combined domestic and international operations generating an annualised turnover of roughly Rs 40 crore. The management believes the international business will become a meaningful contributor over the next two years as more outlets come online in the Middle East.

With vegetarian QSR demand rising among both Indian diaspora and regional consumers, the company is betting that its fast-casual street-food positioning will resonate strongly across the GCC’s increasingly diverse food-service market.

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Laurel’s Rockets Past Seven Figure Sales as Whole Foods, Erewhon, and Gelsons Fuel a Breakout A2 Dairy Boom

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Laurel’s has pulled off a remarkable first year, crossing the coveted seven figure mark in annual sales and catching the attention of buyers across the retail landscape. The brand, launched in August 2024, entered the market with a simple idea. A ready to drink latte made with A2 dairy and crafted with flavors that feel familiar yet elevated. What started as a small launch has now turned into a fast expanding presence in premium stores.

In just over a year, Laurel’s products have made their way into Erewhon, Gelsons, and Wegmans. The momentum has not slowed down. Whole Foods Market has taken the brand nationwide and conversations with Target and Kroger are already underway for 2026 placement. This early scale is unusual for a young beverage company and speaks to the demand for A2 dairy as shoppers continue searching for cleaner and easier to digest options.

Industry analysts estimate that the A2 dairy category will grow close to fifteen percent year over year through 2030. Smaller players who entered early are now in a strong position to ride the wave. Laurel’s sits in the same circle as Pioneer Pastures and Alec’s Ice Cream, two other names that have helped shape the space. Retailers have also noticed that shoppers are actively shifting from standard dairy to A2 based choices, especially in ready to drink beverages.

With this level of traction, the team at Laurel’s is preparing for its first institutional raise in the coming quarter. Investors have been following the brand’s climb closely and early signs point toward a competitive round. If the company maintains its current pace, it could be one of the breakout stories in the next chapter of the A2 category.

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Kimirica Launches Luxury Home Fragrance Line to Elevate Indian Lifestyle Segment

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SnackTeam
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Kimirica, India’s premium self-care brand, is making a foray into luxury home fragrances, signaling a strategic expansion beyond personal care. The Bengaluru-based brand unveiled a new collection featuring hand-poured soy candles, room sprays, and curated hand caddy sets. Each item is presented in reeded jars, designed to function as both décor pieces and sensory enhancers for modern living spaces.

The move reflects Kimirica’s growing emphasis on blending aesthetics with olfactory sophistication. Rajat Jain, Co-founder and Olfactory Expert, explained that the brand’s entry into home fragrances builds on its expertise in premium perfumery. “Our experience with Eau de Parfums inspired us to extend that sensorial journey into homes. The goal was not just to fill spaces with fragrance but to create pieces that contribute to the visual and emotional character of the environment,” he said.

CEO and Co-founder Mohit Jain emphasized the brand’s intent to elevate the perception of home fragrances. “Traditionally, home scents have been functional and utilitarian. Our vision is to merge design, aroma, and lifestyle. Each product serves as a visual anchor, enriching spaces while remaining personal and inviting,” he noted.

Since its inception in 2012, Kimirica has established a niche with vegan formulations, distinctive scent profiles, and products that combine functionality with aesthetic appeal. The new home fragrance collection represents a continuation of the brand’s philosophy, focusing on creating elevated, immersive experiences for consumers who prioritize both quality and design.

The line is IFRA-certified, reinforcing Kimirica’s commitment to safety and global standards, while aligning with contemporary consumer preferences for ethically crafted, luxury lifestyle products. By entering the home fragrance segment, the company aims to capture a growing market for premium lifestyle offerings in India, extending its brand footprint and reinforcing its position as a curator of sophisticated self-care and home experiences.

This launch positions Kimirica to compete with both international and domestic premium lifestyle brands, marking a significant milestone in the company’s broader strategy to combine sensorial indulgence with elevated design.

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